Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Leaving the local prisons and heading into the bush of Zambia seems like a transition of jumping from a frying pan into a fire.

But, for these two missionaries, their faith has called them, they say, even if it means watching every step for vipers or cobras and possibly living without electricity for a period of time.

On the plus side, there are no lions or tigers there, confirms Jim Jeremias, who along with wife Connie will leave their Lexington home in March to preach and teach in this southern Africa country where Deciduous trees and bush fires dominate the landscape.

The couple serves with Rock of Ages Ministries, which has missions in nine foreign countries and consists of 144 missionary families. The husband-wife team recently marked 20 years with the organization. Since moving from Hurricane, W.Va., to Lexington in 1999, both have worked in prisons — Jim at Southern Correctional Institution in Troy and Connie here at North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women on Raleigh Road.

“God has called us,” Jim says of the primary reason he and his wife are bound for the plateau continent.

Jim, 58, plans to continue with his prison ministry there, and both will teach Bible studies in schools and orphanages.

“We have a great burden to teach the Bible to children in schools with our ongoing ministry in jails and prisons,” Jim says. “The Lord has burdened us to see lives changed by our Lord and savior.”

The Jeremias served abbreviated stints with foreign missions previously — Jim having been to such places as Brazil, Ghana, West Africa, New Zealand and Lithuania — and both have visited their soon-to-be Zambia home.

“It is different overseas,” Jim says. “Conditions are not near what they are here. Every country is different. The culture is different, but the spiritual needs of prisoners are the same.”

The portion of Zambia where the Jeremias are headed was colonized by David Livingstone, an English explorer and missionary. The official language there is English. The Lexington pair also expects to encounter a tribal dialect known as Bemba, which is prevalent in the bush country.

Jim describes the bush country as an embellishment of our rural areas. “There are concrete block houses and bush huts. If it's in the bush, it's much more primitive. There are lots of challenges. They don't have electricity, running water, sewage or good, clean drinking water.”

Rock of Ages is building a house for the Jeremias. “We will be getting electricity and cell phone service,” Jim says, once everything is in place. “We don't know about the Internet. Things are really expensive there. Just to get electricity (hookup to electric service) could cost about $14,000 (American dollars).

“We're looking forward to it. The average lifespan in Zambia is 38. Some children die young. There is a great need for orphanages.”

Connie, 56, who has been married to Jim for 34 years, says she's excited about the move but will miss working at the local prison where, in addition to teaching Bible studies, she teaches sign language and organized a women's signing choir.

“I never thought of myself as much of an adventurer, but the last time when we stayed in that area I found I could adjust pretty easily.

“There are a lot of possibilities, things that can be done there in the prisons and schools, physically and spiritually.”

They plan to stay in Zambia for 13 to 15 years, though they will be back in the states often to visit family and friends.

“I feel like we are both fit enough and ready for the challenges,” says Connie, who says that she and her husband exercise and are conscientious about what they eat.

One of the many challenges will be washing their clothes. On the Jeremias' last visit to Zambia they hired a lady to wash them in a bucket. “And she will probably do a better job with that than I would,” Connie says.

The goals of their mission include: sharing the word of God in the schools and prisons; raising funds to have wells dug, since only 46 percent of Zambians have access to clean water; and supplying clothing for the children.

Anyone who would like to contribute to Rock of Ages Ministries may call 250-1184.

Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.

<p>Leaving the local prisons and heading into the bush of Zambia seems like a transition of jumping from a frying pan into a fire.</p><p>But, for these two missionaries, their faith has called them, they say, even if it means watching every step for vipers or cobras and possibly living without electricity for a period of time.</p><p>On the plus side, there are no lions or tigers there, confirms Jim Jeremias, who along with wife Connie will leave their Lexington home in March to preach and teach in this southern Africa country where Deciduous trees and bush fires dominate the landscape.</p><p>The couple serves with Rock of Ages Ministries, which has missions in nine foreign countries and consists of 144 missionary families. The husband-wife team recently marked 20 years with the organization. Since moving from Hurricane, W.Va., to Lexington in 1999, both have worked in prisons — Jim at Southern Correctional Institution in Troy and Connie here at North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women on Raleigh Road.</p><p>“God has called us,” Jim says of the primary reason he and his wife are bound for the plateau continent.</p><p>Jim, 58, plans to continue with his prison ministry there, and both will teach Bible studies in schools and orphanages.</p><p>“We have a great burden to teach the Bible to children in schools with our ongoing ministry in jails and prisons,” Jim says. “The Lord has burdened us to see lives changed by our Lord and savior.”</p><p>The Jeremias served abbreviated stints with foreign missions previously — Jim having been to such places as Brazil, Ghana, West Africa, New Zealand and Lithuania — and both have visited their soon-to-be Zambia home.</p><p>“It is different overseas,” Jim says. “Conditions are not near what they are here. Every country is different. The culture is different, but the spiritual needs of prisoners are the same.”</p><p>The portion of Zambia where the Jeremias are headed was colonized by David Livingstone, an English explorer and missionary. The official language there is English. The Lexington pair also expects to encounter a tribal dialect known as Bemba, which is prevalent in the bush country.</p><p>Jim describes the bush country as an embellishment of our rural areas. “There are concrete block houses and bush huts. If it's in the bush, it's much more primitive. There are lots of challenges. They don't have electricity, running water, sewage or good, clean drinking water.”</p><p>Rock of Ages is building a house for the Jeremias. “We will be getting electricity and cell phone service,” Jim says, once everything is in place. “We don't know about the Internet. Things are really expensive there. Just to get electricity (hookup to electric service) could cost about $14,000 (American dollars).</p><p>“We're looking forward to it. The average lifespan in Zambia is 38. Some children die young. There is a great need for orphanages.”</p><p>Connie, 56, who has been married to Jim for 34 years, says she's excited about the move but will miss working at the local prison where, in addition to teaching Bible studies, she teaches sign language and organized a women's signing choir.</p><p>“I never thought of myself as much of an adventurer, but the last time when we stayed in that area I found I could adjust pretty easily.</p><p>“There are a lot of possibilities, things that can be done there in the prisons and schools, physically and spiritually.”</p><p>They plan to stay in Zambia for 13 to 15 years, though they will be back in the states often to visit family and friends.</p><p>“I feel like we are both fit enough and ready for the challenges,” says Connie, who says that she and her husband exercise and are conscientious about what they eat.</p><p>One of the many challenges will be washing their clothes. On the Jeremias' last visit to Zambia they hired a lady to wash them in a bucket. “And she will probably do a better job with that than I would,” Connie says.</p><p>The goals of their mission include: sharing the word of God in the schools and prisons; raising funds to have wells dug, since only 46 percent of Zambians have access to clean water; and supplying clothing for the children.</p><p>Anyone who would like to contribute to Rock of Ages Ministries may call 250-1184.</p><p>Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.</p>